July 18, 2018

The Pan African Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (PALEDC) on Tuesday in Lagos called for more workshops to enlighten the youth on the Not Too Young To Run Law.

The PALEDC Head of Operations in West Africa, Mr Babalola Omoniyi, made the call at a one-day workshop organised by the centre for youths in Lagos.

The workshop had the theme: “Public Policy Advocacy and Youth Governance’’.

Omoniyi said that the law would be a waste if youths would not be empowered with leadership skills and enlightened on governance and public policy.

“Youths have to be involved in governance. They will do better if they know better,” he said.

According to the official, the workshop was aimed at achieving the purpose.

He said that such a workshop was necessary as the 2019 General Elections approached.

Omoniyi said that adequate information on leadership would help the youth to refuse to be manipulated during elections.
“This is one way to say the bill has been passed and signed into law.

“This workshop is going to run in three West Africa countries (Nigeria, Ghana and Gambia).’’

Omoniyi called on the youth to be a change agents in their families, communities and nations.

A House of Representatives aspirant, Mr Abayomi Bello, said that the workshop was apt.

Bello, who wants to represent Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency in Kogi on the platform of APC, advised the youth to take up leadership roles.

He called on civil society groups to sensitise the youth to their civic responsibilities.

The guest speaker at the event and President of the International Centre for Diplomacy in Morocco, MS Karina Rhanem, said that the workshop was aimed at communicating that `change might take time’.

“Change doesn’t happen in a day; it takes time; it is a shared responsibilities.

“This is our civic engagement as people to promote change and, at same time, influence our small communities.

“Change must start from us at home, school, neighbourhood and community; our youths should be interested in how they can contribute to governance.

“They should move from the culture of complaints to culture of proposition of alternative solutions. There is need for change of mentality,’’ she said.

A young musician known as “OzzyBosco’’, who participated at the workshop, advised the youth to shun drug abuse to preserve their lives.
Another participant, Mr Femi Johnson, said that the workshop was a step in the right direction.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the workshop were drawn from political, entertainment and academic circles. Civil societies were also represented.